The performance was first
class, the whole corps are talented and beautiful to watch, the
principals outstanding, the score light-hearted and unexpectedly
familiar all through. Costumes are traditional and gorgeous.

Along the way we are treated
to a princely solo from Phil King (Prince Siegfried) and a clever pas de
trois from Yoshiko Kabuta, Toloyo Tanimoto Jequier and Carl Hale in Act
1. Both of which were well received. Hale is outstanding as
he dances the jester with athletic ability, great lines and comedic
forms and much humour.

In Act 2 we see the cygnets'
amazing combination, brilliantly syncronised considering the differing
heights of the dancers, and the pas de deux danced by Siegfried and
Odette (Melanie Cox) is haunting, they move softly as one with hardly a
sound. Cox's pointe work is excruciatingly beautiful and received a
lengthy appreciative applause.

In 3 the scene is colourful,
and the dancing vibrant. The Spanish dancers slip in a fleeting
Gancho or two, Hale's solo is outstanding and the Russian dolly-like,
Czardas steal the show with their excellent synchronization and expert
interpretation of the music. There is a truly exquisite pas de deux
with the well-known, breathtaking 32 fouettés from Cox.

Act 4 opens with a feast for
the eyes, a dreamily lit forest with the swans at rest on the moonlit
lake. We are treated to a well-choreographed dance off between Siegfried
and the suitably menacing Rothbart Simon Jaquier). A pleasant
surprise is had by all, in the final moments we see Siegfried and Odette
looking towards a happy-ever-after rather than the traditional lovers'
death scene.

My over-riding memories of the
performance are the beautiful, expressive arms of the swans and, in the
final Act, all swans raised en pointe achingly displaying their
affection for, and protecting, their sad swan queen.

The performance closed to
hearty applause and appropriate booing for the villain of the piece.

Congratulations to the VFB who
celebrates it's 30th anniversary this year. Here's to the next 30.

To
20-11-10.

Lynda Ford

View from the other side of the lake . .
.

***

PERHAPS the last thing audiences might
expect from this company's visit is to see a boy from the Black Country
in a key role.

But Dudley's Carl Hale gives a stunning performance
in his favourite part as the Jester, first on stage as the curtain rises
and taking part in several dances after that.

Hale shows a keen appreciation of humour as well as
a grasp of the skills involved, and he throws in a few spectacular
cartwheels, too.

For this talented company, dancing to recordings of
Tchaikovsky's beautiful music cannot be as inspiring as working with a
live orchestra, but no doubt the cost factor is responsible for that.

The quality of the dancing, however, is superb
throughout, with Phil King (Prince Siegfried) and Melanie Cox (Odette)
enjoying exquisite moments in the story of a group of maidens
transformed into swans by wicked sorcerer Baron Rothbart (Simon Jequier).

Act 3 produces outstanding performances from the
three Princesses, played by Amy Fussell, Emily Hufton and Jenny
Morrison, as they dance with the Prince who rejects them in favour of
his love for the beautiful Odette.

Swan Lake, the world's most popular ballet, runs to
Saturday night 20.11.20